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Plunkett half-ton saves follow-on

category: Cricket

13.07.2008 20:52

After declaring on 352-8, Somerset hoped to force the follow-on as Durham went from 114-1 to 145-6, still needing 58 to avoid being sent back in.

But Plunkett's stands of 56 with Phil Mustard and 50 with Callum Thorp saw the hosts finish on 261 all out, before the England bowler fell for 52.

Somerset, left with nine overs to bat, reached 16 for no wicket at the close.

Somerset lost Craig Kieswetter for 43 off 39 balls, and Peter Trego for 68, as they added 28 in 30 minutes in the morning, before declaring as soon as they reached the fourth batting point.

Durham began by scoring at at six an over until Michael di Venuto edged Charl Willoughby to second slip for 40 off 37 balls.

After an opening stand of 68, Mark Stoneman settled down to hit 10 fours before he edged a wide to Kieswetter, ushering in the near-collapse.

Will Smith, batting with a dislocated finger, was caught behind on 14, Dale Benkenstein then went to a catch at gully after five quick boundaries, and was followed by Ben Harmison, bowled by an Ian Blackwell spinner between bat and pad.

Paul Wiseman was next, pulling a Trego long hop straight to mid-wicket.

Mustard averted a crisis by applying himself sensibly until he went for a big hit off Thomas on 32 and edged to Kieswetter.

Plunkett skied an attempted pull to mid-wicket as Zander de Bruyn took the last two wickets with his medium pace to go with Saturday's century.

Original text is here

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